Dr. Neil Spector, one of the nation's top oncologists, led a charmed life. He was educated at prestigious universities, trained at top medical centers, and had married the woman of his dreams. It seemed too perfect. And it was.
In 1994, it all came crashing down. He and his wife lost two unborn children. And a mysterious illness brought him to the brink of death. In his compelling memoir, Gone in a Heartbeat, Dr. Spector describes in great detail how he was misdiagnosed and, despite being a medical insider, was often discounted by his fellow physicians.
As he recounts his own unorthodox approach to medicine and physician/patient relationships, Dr. Spector encourages readers to never surrender their power to a third party. He tells of courageous patients who served as role models, he conceded that doctors do a disservice to patients when "we treat them like statistics," and he advocates for educated patients who can make informed decisions collaboratively and not simply follow instructions.
In Dr. Spector's words: "To recognize that we are in control of our own bodies and destinies can be a powerful step toward true healing."
Readers of Gone in a Heartbeat will never view the medical profession the same again.
This is the story of Neil Spector who was a compassionate oncologist/hematologist who went for years with potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmias that eventually led to a heart transplant. The hardest part of his story was that he felt strongly that he may have had Lyme Disease which, gone untreated, can present a host of issues later, one of which is cardiac failure. The most important takeaway for me is that we have to be advocates for our own health and for our loved ones as well, because medicine is becoming increasingly impersonal. As an RN, I can’t begin to explain the changes in healthcare from when I graduated in 1983 until now. Some of the changes are exciting, and some not so much….I would like to have worked with Dr Spector. He sounded like he was truly one of the good guys. This book is his journey through life.
I did google him, and sadly he passed away in 2020, 5 years after this book was published.
Really wonderful, inspiring, courageous story of a physician's difficult and trying health journey.
So much power in his story, full of courage, honesty, and inner strength. Beautiful, touching.
Highly recommended, especially for anyone who has dealt with chronic illness or dealing with illness in general. One of the big takeaways is you have to be your own best advocate as a patient. Trust your gut. Research your condition and your treatment options, don't take drs input as 100% truth. Don't be combative with your drs, just be informed so you can ask the right questions and be an active participant in your healthcare. Drs don't have the time to fully investigate and pour their heart and souls into each individual case, that is a luxury. And often given our current health care system they just can't afford to do this even if the will is there.
Also you have to watch out for the fact that todays mds are often overly reliant on lab testing which they don't always fully understand, without any idea on the specificity or sensitivity of the testing. Sometimes the overreliance on testing comes at the cost of listening to the patient, leading them to discount and devalue patient history/testimony. Skillful diagnosis is both a deductive puzzle and subtle art.
The author was a wonderful, empathic hospital physician who spent much time with his patients, listened to them, held their hands, did everything he could for them; they were critically ill. He was on call 24 hours a day and got little sleep.
He used all his energy on his patients and thus failed to take adequate care of himself.
Consequently, he himself was stricken with a life-threatening disease, ventricular tachycardia, which was “a potentially fatal arrhythmia where the heart beats dangerously out of control”. It was the leading cause of out-of-hospital sudden deaths.
Neil had only 10 percent heart function.
He had a loving wife, Denise, and their strongest desire was to have children, but they lost two unborn babies.
Eventually, the couple were blessed with a little daughter, Céleste.
Neil’s condition worsened and he strongly suspected that he had Lyme disease but his doctors always denied this since his blood-tests were negative for the disease.
Eventually, Neil got a heart pacemaker with defibrillator, the latter giving rise to dreadfully painful electrical shocks.
This is a deeply moving story written by Neil about his own life and illness. Being a physician, he had insight into all his symptoms, and being both patient and physician had more insight than the doctors attending him. And it turned out he was correct, he did have Lyme disease, an extremely serious disease.
The book includes Neil’s personal and touching poems, finally poems I could understand. There are many photos of the whole family.
This is a well-written, heart-warming, insightful book that I can highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Spector chronicles his at times frustrating experiences trying to find out what was causing his heart to fail. I was surprised that his doctors didn't listen to his complaints and take him more seriously considering he was a colleague. I found the book read like a novel, it kept me very interesting. He wove his own poetry in with the book and I felt they worked well with the chapters. He also provided good advice such as not to take what doctors say at face value, to listen to your gut, and to be your own advocate. I think it's a good read for those suffering from health issues and ones who are also caregivers.
Gone in a Heartbeat: A Physician's Search for True Healing is a heart wrenching story of a physical’s agonizing ordeal with an undiagnosed disease that almost kills him numerous times and eventually destroys his heart. During 16 years of horrendous pain and suffering, many prominent doctors refuted Dr. Spector’s self-diagnosis of Lyme’s disease. Where most people would have caved in and succumbed to many misdiagnoses, Dr. Spector questioned the “experts” and finally found the answers himself.
What I found amazing is how the love between Dr. Spector and his wife grows stronger as they combat this disease together through love, prayer, persistence, and research. In the end, it is determined that Lyme disease is the culprit that destroys his heart.
Dr. Spector emphasizes the need for patients to believe in their instincts and listen to their heart. He stresses the necessity for those in the medical field to intently listen to their patients’ descriptions of their symptoms instead of rushing through office visits and relying on medical tests that frequently provide an incorrect diagnosis.
Through reading this amazing book it is evident that Dr. Spector is an extremely comprehensive and compassionate physician; the kind of doctor who takes the time to listen to patients and not just medical tests. The reader also gets to know the human side of Dr. Spector through the eloquent poems he wrote during those painful 16 years. His writings seem to be a form of therapy that helped him survive the torture he was enduring. The poems also show the gentleness of this brilliant physician, who is also a wonderful, loving, father and husband.
This book is a must read that will have you rooting for Dr. Spector and also wondering how anyone could have survived so many years of suffering and pain. I wept many times throughout the book, but in the end I realized that anything is possible with the love, prayer, and compassion of family and friends. Never give up and always follow your heart!
In “Gone In A Heartbeat, “ Dr. Neil Spector — a leading oncologist, researcher and educator — shares the story of his brave quest to find answers when faced with a debilitating and, eventually, life-threatening medical condition brought on by an untreated tick bite. This highly engaging book reads like a mystery, as each chapter recounts Dr. Spector’s uphill battle to find answers for why his previously strong heart is beginning to fail. The clues for what is happening are few and hard to find, and each small step forward is accompanied by a series of perilous setbacks and heartbreaks. Eventually, Dr. Spector’s life hangs in the balance and a momentous decision must be made. Filled with personal reflections and touching insights into life, health and family, “Gone In A Heartbeat” shows just how difficult it can be to navigate today’s complex medical environment — even when you’re a respected physician with access to top-notch care. Dr. Spector’s advice? Be your own best advocate and trust your instincts.
Neil's book is a uniquely personal story of an academic physician turned patient who perseveres through faith and at times, top notch medical care to obtain a life saving heart transplant. This is a fast paced book which keeps the reader glued to the pages. Neil tells the story of missed diagnosis, compassionate nurses and physicians, and ultimately a life saving procedure. Throughout the book, and probably more profound, are the emotional ups and downs that he and his family endure over 20 years. Gone in a Heartbeat is an intensely personal story that Neil Spector shares with the rest of the world to help others recognize two crucial aspects in any chronic illness. First, to always advocate for yourself in the medical system, and secondly, to grasp onto or to work towards faith as you confront challenge after challenge. Of course, faith requires the support of family, friends and the knowledge of a higher power that provides healing in many different ways. Neil accomplished both of these goals and shares his story with dignity and grace.
"We know that people are dying all the time...from Chronic Lyme Disease." -Prof. Neil Spector, MD, Duke Medical School
Prof. Neil Spector lifts the veil on a dirty medical secret hiding in plain sight: Millions of Americans have been victimized, some even killed by a small handful of insurance lobbyists posing as scientists who deny that Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD) exists. Prof. Spector can say this with certainty, because not only has he exhaustively examined the science (and pseudo-science), but he himself was brought to the brink of death by undiagnosed CLD. Despite Prof. Spector's academic chops, this is a surprisingly grounded, interesting and personal book, unburdened by boring medical lectures and parts read like a thriller, especially when his doctor tells him he will die in three days if they don't find a new heart to give him. Check out Spector's TED talk and interviews on youtube to get an idea (though the book is much better), then read the book. You won't be disappointed!
This memoir by one of the top oncologists in the United States is riveting. Neil Spector, M.D., who ran track for UNC in college, spent grueling years as a resident, intern, etc. at hospitals from Harvard to Parkland Memorial in Dallas, was the picture of health...until he could feel that he wasn't. His navigation through the medical maze as a patient is quite the cautionary tale for lay people like me. There are stories in here that are not exactly religious - but give me goosebumps for the spirituality that comes through our bodies and he has captured in his personal journey to getting a new heart. When my father was dying, words from this book helped me let go and I shared them with my family and it helped them as well. It's a page turner of a story that will make your heart soar and, perhaps, instill wisdom from which you can pull at some point in your life as well.
Just finished reading - both crying and laughing throughout the book. It's about the strength of a man's spirit in being able to overcome obstacles to the diagnosis and treatment of an incredibly horrific outcome of a relatively common disease. A page turner, as in "could it get worse? yes!", and heart warming with insights that could only be provided by a physician who happens to also be a loving, caring human being. A must read for every physician and patient wanting an ultimately uplifting story of the intricate relationship between spirituality and medicine in the healing process.
It takes guts for a well respected physician to share deeply about his personal journey. Dr. Neil Spector is a High School friend, an exceptional man, a loving husband and father as well as a wonderful physician. His book has lessons for all of us. Neil's diseased physical heart may have failed him, but his spiritual heart is in impeccable health. My respect for him makes shameless promotion of his book a no brainer. Once again, he lays his life down in compassionate service to others and tells his story as a gift to all of us.
Neil Spector shares his personal story with a voice that is heartfelt and appreciative of the greatest gift one can give to another human being. His letter to his donor's family expressed such deep gratitude for the ultimate demonstration of love that their loved one gave to him you cannot help but be moved. It is a celebration of the human spirit, the love and caring of family, the importance of friends and the connection we have to one another. A fast and uplifting read!
This book is representative of the struggle many Lyme patients experience in getting the correct diagnosis and proper treatment. A cancer researcher finally undergoes a heart transplant because Lyme has ravaged his own. Thankfully, the author is healthy and running half marathons now, and even better, speaking about his journey and enlightening the masses about Lyme disease. His descriptions are direct, honest, tangible. Best book i have read about Lyme disease thus far.
This is more about surviving heart disease, and ultimately transplantation, than it is about Lyme disease. I was hoping the author would talk more about Lyme, since it was his appearance on Diane Rehm's NPR show about Lyme that brought him to my attention. That said, this is a fascinating book about the medical and spiritual aspects of chronic illness. I learned a lot about physiology, but more about perseverance amidst horrible odds.
Having experienced atrial fibrillation and currently experiencing early and sometimes rapid heart beats this story has given me courage to live life to the fullest. I am a patient at duke heart clinic with a similarly caring physician.
I literally couldn't put this book down--it gripped me right from the first page and didn't let go. Neil's story is so heartbreaking, triumphant, and incredible; he is truly an inspiration for all of us. I encouraged my friend to read it and now she's raving about it too!
This book was simply impossible to put down. The story was a gripping thriller, and the fact that it's a true story makes it simply captivating. A highly recommended read that is heartbreaking, informative, eye opening & ultimately gives you hope.
Dr. Neil Spector, one of the nation’s top oncologists, led a charmed life. He was educated at prestigious universities, trained at top medical centers, and had married the woman of his dreams. It seemed too perfect. And it was. In 1994, it all came crashing down. He and his wife lost two unborn children. And a mysterious illness brought him to the brink of death. In his compelling memoir, Gone in a Heartbeat, Dr. Spector describes in great detail how he was misdiagnosed and, despite being a medical insider, was often discounted by his fellow physicians. As he recounts his own unorthodox approach to medicine and physician/patient relationships, Dr. Spector encourages readers to never surrender their power to a third party. He tells of courageous patients who served as role models, he concedes that doctors do a disservice to patients when “we treat them like statistics,” and he advocates for educated patients who can make informed decisions collaboratively and not simply follow instructions. In Dr. Spector’s words: “To recognize that we are in control of our own bodies and destinies can be a powerful step toward true healing.” Readers of Gone in a Heartbeat will never view the medical profession the same again.
I'm happy that Dr. Spector took the time to share his story.
Interesting narrative of a physician dealing with the same issues others face when they have an ailment that's not a common, "off the rack" slam-dunk issue that's easy to diagnose and treat. (that is, your observations being ignored and you're told that the problem you're experiencing does not exist in your body even when it does)
Took years to find out what was wrong and he did because he relied on his own gut instinct when evaluating what other physicians told him. And that's the key take away from the book. A secondary take-away is that your life won't go back to normal after a heart transplant, you'll still be teathered to the medical system and be taking lots of pills. But you'll be alive hopefully.
The book needs merciless editing as it is too long. And the story is a shallow narrative. It is an easy read, like a Reader's Digest article but longer.
I loved this book. As a fellow Lyme sufferer who too has written a memoir about a traumatic decline in health (albeit before receiving my Lyme diagnosis) I could identify with Neil on so many levels. I read this shortly after Neil’s passing and wish him to rest in peace. My heart felt condolences go out to Denise and Celeste. L V Hannah, author of Keep Listening.
Neil Spector's writing is heartfelt when talking about his patients and his own struggle with illness. As difficult as this story is, I enjoyed reading it because he Spector's perspective is one we all need. It teaches us to have courage to believe what our bodies are saying more than what the professionals are telling us.
This book is about a doctor's journey through his own quite serious medical problems. He teaches us to take one day at a time, never lose faith, and not to worry about tomorrow. This is one of the best books I have ever read.
Powerful , moving and honest. It was a tough read as Lyme has turned our world upside down but there is hope that these stories will ultimately make a difference. God Bless you for sharing your experience and for making a difference in so many lives.
Dr. Spector still has some theological thinking to do—as we all do—but this book is a must read for anyone in the medical field. A smart and sympathetic call to more human clinical care.
Dr. Spector suffered years of agonizing pain, debilitating heart malfunction and gut-level anxiety, all because of an undiagnosed illness. By the time he began to suspect what was wrong, he was on his way to a heart transplant. Despite his medical training and the involvement of world class specialists, Dr. Spector endured what many of us do: the endless rounds of invasive tests, the arrogance of doctors who think our pain is all in our heads, the repeated denial of what Dr. Spector's instinct was telling him.
This tale of Dr. Spector's health is woven together with stories he tells from his days of medical training, his research and his medical practice. The conclusion he comes to is that doctors today rely too heavily on tests rather than their clinical skills. He believes that more accurate diagnoses would result if doctors would spend more time listening to patients and taking complete and accurate medical histories. It was certainly the case for Dr. Specter that doctors believed the results of blood tests rather than the instincts of the debilitated man who stood before them.
Dr. Spector's writing is straightforward, colorful and easy to read. What I appreciated most about the book is its spiritual tone. Dr. Spector meditates deeply on the fragility of life and the presence of a higher power. In some ways, he sounds like an evangelical Christian -- he finds peace in a song by Michael W. Smith -- but his spirituality encompasses a broader view of the concept of God. He is a deeply grateful man who takes nothing for granted. After all he's been through, no one would blame him if he were angry and bitter. That he is not is a miracle in and of itself. And I like reading about miracles!
The book is extremely well-written by a man who is a well-rounded person made only more well-rounded by the addition of a heart from another person. It unfortunately did not get the benefit of good editing and has a couple of continuity problems, but nothing the reader can't quickly figure out.
I am lucky in that I have forced my way through to treatment for cardiac Lyme far earlier than the author of this book. At the same time, the book is terrifying for anyone with this condition. And the frustrations are enough to make any Lyme patient wish they could tie their physicians down and read this book, but of course we would also like to tie them down and get them to listen to us to start with.
Because of the skill of the author, this isn't *just* a book about Lyme, but also about the relationship one has with one's body and the impact of chronic stress and chronic illness on a person and their family.